by Sato Tsutomu
Of course, the truth was otherwise. The magic Tatsuya used was not the USNA military's secret magic "Molecular Divider", nor was he using martial arts to allow his bare hands to shear through human flesh. Just as he decomposed the bullets, he used his right hand as the origin and activated Decomposition Magic at point blank range.
However, he was still under orders to maintain confidentiality. Also, this wasn't the time and place to explain.
"Saegusa-senpai, Nakajou-senpai, please evacuate from the area as soon as possible. Although their final goal remains unknown, their primary objective must be to kill or kidnap students with advanced magic skills."
After leaving this warning for Mayumi, who just appeared from the wings of the stage to see what happened, and Azusa, who sat in the last row as one of the judges, Tatsuya departed from the scene.
◊ ◊ ◊
Just as Tatsuya and company vanished through the doorway, an incredibly violent explosion shook the conference hall.
Chaotic screaming and the furious din combined to shatter everyone's nerves.
Currently, the chaos had not spread to where Azusa stood in the foremost row of the judges' seats.
Not yet.
However, at the current progression, this panic would undoubtedly lead to a stampede with lots of injuries. At this time, Azusa had no idea what to do or how to do anything and could only stand there frozen.
"A-chan, A-chan...... Student Council President Nakajou!"
Someone on stage reprimanded Azusa.
Hurriedly clambering to her feet, Azusa raised her head to the stage.
Standing on one side of the stage, Mayumi took several steps forward, caught Azusa's eyes, and spoke to her.
"At this rate, this will descend into a panic with lots of people getting hurt. So please use your power to settle everyone down."
"Eh!?"
Mayumi's words caused Azusa's eyes to widen.
This was not because she didn't comprehend her meaning.
"But, that......"
Azusa's magic could interfere with the mentality of others and clamp down on panic, making it particularly effective in these situations. However, mental interference magic was a highly restricted branch of magic and was not something adolescents could wield with impunity.
"Isn't your strength reserved for precisely these sorts of situations? Not my power or Mari or Suzune's power, Azusa, right now we need your power."
At this moment, Mayumi wasn't messing around with her words. She said Suzune, not "Rin-chan", and Azusa, not "A-chan".
Normally, decorum demanded that she refer to them as "Ichihara" and "Nakajou", but she could count on the fingers of one hand the number of times Mayumi called her by name. Based on this point alone, Azusa could tell that Mayumi was deathly serious and was earnestly requesting her to use mental interference magic "Azusa Yumi".
"Don't worry about it, I'll take responsibility. The Saegusa name isn't just for show."
Mayumi adorably winked in order to ease Azusa's mind. Calling on the "Saegusa" name was to hold off those in power who could just stand and fret at this chaos.
She could understand that much. That sentence was no lie.
She didn't want to put all the burden onto Mayumi, but this wasn't the time to say that.
Azusa vigorously nodded and turned out, directing her gaze to the squabbling audience.
She extended her hand to the necklace around her neck and pulled out a small pendant from her collar that could have been hidden in an elementary school student's hand. Azusa unclasped the pendant and held it in her left hand.
She took a deep breath and flooded the pendant with psions.
This pendant was the core component of a CAD that was designed to support exactly one type of magic. Only one Activation Sequence was recorded within and, since only one function was necessary, all other components needed for switching Activation Sequences like buttons or monitors were excluded to form a miniature magic staff.
A magic wand forged for one person and equipped with one magic spell.
Azusa activated emotional interference magic "Azusa Yumi". —A clear note that could be heard from front to back spread across the conference hall.
This was a hallucinatory sound.
It was not air, but a subconscious sound of the tides.
It was not the oscillation of psions, but waves of pushions.
Everyone thirsted for the clear reverberation the same way a traveler stranded in a murky, foul swamp felt the first drop of rain and raised their head to wait for the next one. Their entire consciousness was concentrated here.
Before the first echo could disappear into the aether, everyone was subconsciously looking forward to the next note.
People desperately wished for the next sound.
At some point, cognitive processing stopped and listening was all that remained.
This lasted for a mere 3 seconds.
This paltry amount of time was all that was needed for people to switch from a state of panic to a trance.
"I am Saegusa Mayumi, former Student Council President of First High."
The suspended consciousness of the audience was drawn by Mayumi's voice that was amplified by the speakers.
"Right now, we are under attack."
The voice that captured everyone's attention dropped another sentence that sent everyone's expression from blankness to a state of shock.
"An unidentified vessel moored in the harbor is launching rocket attacks. In support of this, mobile forces concealed in the city have also launched their assault."
These were truly astounding words.
For Azusa, if Mayumi hadn't been the one saying this, she would definitely have been skeptical.
But, just as Mayumi herself had said, "the Saegusa name isn't just for show".
If it was her, then she would definitely get wind of the news and based on her standing, she couldn't be sprouting lies. No matter how ludicrous her words were, they must be the truth.
"Earlier, the malefactors we captured should be the invader's comrades. Based on the earlier sounds of explosions, the target is likely the Magicians and magic technology in this building."
Mayumi paused briefly when she reached this point and swept her gaze over the crowd.
Everyone was waiting on her words with bated breath.
"As everyone knows, this conference hall has an underground tunnel which serves as an evacuation route to an emergency shelter."
No one shifted his or her gaze from Mayumi.
"The emergency shelter has the capacity to hold us all."
They hung on to every one of her words.
"However, the underground shelter can only protect against natural disasters and air strikes."
Not just the students, even the adults were completely focused on her.
"It cannot stand against land based military forces."
Even the "powers that be", so used to ordering people around, were listening in.
"We suspect that the enemy has invested Magicians in the units. Unfortunately, the outlook for a shelter to last against magical attacks is not positive."
Now, everyone present knew of Mayumi. Regardless of whether it was her appearance, her competition performance, or the meaning behind her name.
That was why not a single person derided her depressing outlook as "child's play". Taking in account the might of the "Saegusa" name, even the educators gave Mayumi free rein here.
"That being said, fleeing into the crossfire on the streets would be even more dangerous. However, right now the most dangerous option is to remain here."
Immediately, the conference hall quieted.
Mayumi was not foolish enough to waste this opportunity.
"Representatives from each school please begin gathering students from your school. Whether we are going to flee to the shelter or flee the conference hall, there is no time to waste."
A wholly different ruckus spread across the hall. The voices calling out to one an
other were different in that there was an orderly sequence to them.
"My apologies to the individuals unaffiliated with the nine schools, but please make your own way to safety. I regret to say that we do not possess the power to guarantee everyone's safety."
This may seem like a ruthless statement, but there were no objections or catcalls. Everyone present was related to magic on some level, so when compared to normal plebeians, they generally approached the "abnormal" crowd.
"If you're heading for the shelter, please take the underground passage immediately. If you wish to flee, there are reports that the coast guard is sending ships to the Mizuho Docks."
Mayumi bowed and cut the mic before turning to Azusa.
"A-chan, I'll leave everyone to you. Teachers, please assist Nakajou."
The teachers with Tsudzura at their head nodded. On the other side, Azusa's eyes widened.
"Eh? President, no, Mayumi?"
Seeing Azusa bubbling with questions with widened eyes, Mayumi smiled and nodded.
"It's perfectly clear. A-chan, you're the current Student Council President for First High. Don't worry, I know you can do it. After all, you were the one I personally trained."
Mayumi winked before turning away and hurrying to the resting area with Suzune and company.
◊ ◊ ◊
Directly ahead of the front entrance, assault rifles and magic were exchanging fire.
The attacking mobile forces all had East Asian faces. They wore high collared tunics and lanky cargo pants of varying colors, much like the terrorists who invaded the conference hall. They were equipped with normal assault rifles and high powered rifles to handle Magicians.
The ones who engaged the mobile forces were professional Magicians employed by the Magic Association.
However, given the fact that the front entrance was breached, the situation was not in their favor.
The mobile forces originally had the numerical advantage and now had anti-Magician armament, which was why several combat Magicians, who were typically a target that infantry with normal load outs could not approach, were lying wounded on the ground.
Advancing forward, Tatsuya stopped in the shaded areas near the main entrance. Behind him, Miyuki also came to a halt. Yet behind them, the next two people following them were full of vigor and about to charge forward.
"Halt! Those are high powered bullets used against Magicians!"
He shouted at Erika as she was about to pass by him,
"Oof!"
And forcibly dragged Leo back by the collar.
"......How merciless, Tatsuya."
"But thanks to you, I'm still breathing."
A beat later, the other four people arrived. Mikihiko seemed appreciative of Tatsuya's violent gesture and even a little envious while Shizuku replied in her usual bland tone. Tatsuya was quite thankful for his friends that remained calm even under these conditions, but before a wry smile made its way across his face, he turned his eyes towards his sister.
"Miyuki, silence the guns."
Hearing Tatsuya's words, all of his friends revealed a "Hm?" expression of shock.
"As you command. But Onii-sama, in order to handle so many people......"
For some reason, Miyuki's reply contained a degree of embarrassment that was utterly alien to this situation.
Exactly what was the cause of her embarrassment, this new enigma caused everyone to tilt their heads.
"I understand."
Tatsuya's next gesture immediately solved this riddle.
Miyuki gently wrapped her right-hand fingers around Tatsuya's outstretched left hand.
No matter what angle one looked it, that embarrassed expression should not be something a sister wore when facing her brother.
But before anyone could raise the question, Miyuki's expression turned solemn, an expression befitting a Magician.
Her left hand moved in a natural manner difficult to detect and gripped the CAD.
Tatsuya slowly raised his right hand parallel to the ground and pointed to the mobile forces from his hiding spot.
The next instant, Miyuki's magic activated.
It was a magic that could freeze fire.
Oscillation Speed-Type Wide Area Magic "Freeze Flame".
"Freeze Flame" was a wide area conceptual magic that prevented anything from burning.
This magic could suppress the temperature of targets within a certain threshold.
At the end of the day, firearms rely on gunpowder — in other words, burning gunpowder to create the force necessary to propel the bullet. The detonation that ignited the gunpowder was also a type of burning. Generally, the concept was that burning a target would raise the temperature, but if the flammable object could be prevented from heating up, then ignition would become impossible. Thus, firearms that have been subjected to "Freeze Flame", regardless of whether they were guns or cannons would be silenced so long as they relied on gunpowder or explosives.
There were roughly 30 men left in the guerrilla unit.
Miyuki's upper limit for mass targeting was approximately 16.
She set 30 odd assault rifles as the target for two volleys of "Freeze Flame".
Before ascertaining the result, Tatsuya had already charged from where he hid behind the doorway.
In a flash, he was already in the mobile forces' formation and waving both hands with a magic edge.
The terrifying image of someone chopping through human flesh with their bare hands was all the more shocking because the magic being used remained a mystery. Thus, in comparison to their allies being shot, this scene terrorized the enemy even more.
Despite their difficult situation owing to the inoperable rifles, the mobile forces initially still acted decisively and drew blades to engage, but their morale was completely crushed by the time the fifth person had been cut down.
They watched Tatsuya with the same eyes they would use on a monster.
He rejected long range magic attacks and intentionally opted for close quarters combat magic with its degree of risk not only to avoid letting his friends discover the truth behind his magic, but also to sow panic among his enemies.
Being seen as the devil incarnate was precisely what Tatsuya wanted.
On the flank of the irregular force whose morale was in tatters, a silver wind flew across with a speed that the eye could barely follow.
Everywhere the wind passed over, blood and flesh flew as an enemy trooper died on the spot.
The kodachi, nay, based on its length the weapon should be a wakizashi.
The true image of the chilling silver wind was this short sword.
Swapping her usual Weaponized Integrated CAD in the shape of a police baton for a wakizashi without the guard, Erika activated personal Speed-Type Magic and took aim at the mobile force's jugular.
She, like Tatsuya, was not someone who hesitated when taking the life of an enemy. For her, this wasn't the first time. And besides that, someone like her who wielded a weapon designed to take life and trained in techniques to do so, she knew the dangers brought on by hesitation. Under the condition that the enemy seeks your life, any hesitation towards returning the favor in kind would be arrogant and foolish in the extreme. Erika was an ardent believer in this.
Mikihiko also shared similar sentiments. Nurtured in a family whose values system over the generations considered magic to be a weapon, he had no delusions about the original purpose and usage of magic.
"Tatsuya, Erika!"
Hearing Mikihiko's voice from behind, both of them quickly sprang aside.
What came from behind was the true wind.
Sharp razor winds mercilessly tore through and eviscerated the soldiers' skin.
After leaving the remnants of the enemy for the Magicians on duty to handle, Tatsuya and Erika returned to their companions for now.
"There was no opportunity to do anything......"
Tatsuya patted the gloomy Leo on the back in encouragement (to which Leo sullenly crouched), raised a thum
bs up at Mikihiko before smiling slightly towards Honoka and Mizuki, who were plainly trying to resist their urge to retch and whose eyes bore traces of fear.
"My apologies. This may be a little too extreme for you guys, Honoka."
"—No, it's OK."
Honoka firmly nodded her head, which was probably her affection at work.
Regardless of the reason, keeping her composure deserved top marks.
Fear or avoidance could wait until they have extricated themselves from this situation, those were Tatsuya's true feelings.
"Mizuki?"
"Ah...... I'm fine as well."
Miyuki's soft question caused Mizuki's originally stiff expression to break into a smile. She was a smart girl. She fully understood that this wasn't a normal situation.
"Speaking of which, Erika, how did you bring that kind of weapon here? I don't think that length can fit in a bag, can it?"
Nonetheless, scenes of death were not something that a person could immediately adjust to and the subsequent shock would not fade immediately.
He intentionally changed the topic to an unimportant one to give the two of them time to settle down.
"Hm, I don't think that's enough?"
Afterwards, using a more amicable tone than usual to reply, Erika also seemed to have caught on to Tatsuya's intentions.
"And how about this......?"
"Ho, seriously......."
The expressive sigh that sprouted from Tatsuya's lips was no act.
Somewhere along the way, Honoka and Mizuki had their eyes drawn there, and even Miyuki, Shizuku, and Mikihiko widened their eyes.
Still, there was a little mechanism worthy of such astonishment.
Erika pressed the power button on the hilt and the thin, razor sharp blade shrank into a round baton.
"Cool, eh? This is the memory blade that the police plan to put into the field starting next year."
"Now that you mention it, the Chiba Family also makes close combat weapons......"
"Strictly speaking, that's the chief source of income."
Although this wasn't a hilarious exchange, their light and swift interchange was sufficient to allow Mizuki and the others to recover themselves.